Handwashing Awareness Week

As National Handwashing Awareness Week comes to an end, we are reminded of the importance of handwashing all year. National Handwashing Awareness Week is December 4-10, 2016. It is a win-win for everyone involved, except the germs.

Handwashing is one you can prevent the flu. Keeping our hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take avoid getting sick and getting others sick.

There are 5 simple yet effective steps of handwashing.

1) Wet – Wet your hands with clean water. The temperature doesn’t matter. Apply soap after wet.
2) Lather – Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to get everywhere.
3) Scrub – Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. The CDC recommends singing the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice is equivalent to 20 seconds.
4) Rinse – Rinse the soap off your hands with clean water.
5) Dry – Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Knowing when to wash your hands is half the battle.

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before and after eating
• Before and after caring for someone who is injured or sick
• After using the restroom
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal waste, or animal food
• After touching trash